Container for a roll of a wire like component, the combination of such a container and component, and a method of paying the component from the roll

ABSTRACT

A roll of wire is captured in a cardboard container so the roll is rotatable in the container about a rotation axis of the roll. The container has opposite sidewalls with aligned slots receiving ends of a shaft about which a spool carrying the roll turns. Each side wall includes three panels in different parallel planes; two of these panels include slots with aligned shoulders supporting the shaft. The container has a slot for enabling the wire to be paid from the roll as the roll turns about its rotation axis and a slit having edges for holding the wire in place.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a container for a roll of awire like component, and more particularly, to (1) such a containerhaving an opening arrangement for enabling the component to be (a) paidfrom the roll to a region outside the container and (b) held in place bythe opening arrangement, (2) a method of paying the component from theroll and (3) the combination of such a container and a roll of wire likecomponents. Another aspect of the invention relates to a container forcapturing a roll of a wire like component, and more particularly to (1)such a container that includes a pair of substantially parallel sides,each including a pair of panels having aligned slots, having shouldersforming a ledge for holding a shaft carrying a spool including the roll,(2) the combination of such a container and a roll of a wire likecomponent, and (3) a cardboard blank from which the container is formed.

BACKGROUND ART

Wire and wire like components, such as thread, string and thin tubing,are typically stored as rolls on spools having an axis of rotation thatis approximately the same as the axis of rotation of the roll. Spoolsfor carrying rolls of wire usually include a pair of circular diskscarried at opposite ends of a tubular center portion through which ashaft extends. The shaft is carried by a pair of arms designed to befixedly mounted on a wall of a point-of-sale facility or a work areawhere the wire is used. A substantial amount of valuable space isrequired at the point-of-sale facility to store such spools. Frequently,the spools are not ideally mounted on the wall of the work area wherethe wire or wire like component is used. Instead, such spools are likelyto be strewn in the work area, resulting in annoying unraveling of thewire or wire like component from the roll and spool. The typical priorart arrangement is relatively expensive because the spools and arms areusually made of metal to support the weight of the roll.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved relatively inexpensive container for rolls of wire likecomponents and the combination of such a container and roll of a wirelike component.

Another object is to provide a new and improved relatively inexpensivecontainer for rolls of wire like components, wherein the container isarranged to enable the component to be easily paid from the roll and/orbe stored for easy access, and the combination of such a container androll of a wire like component.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method of paying a wire like component from a roll of thecomponent and of storing the component in a manner which facilitates thepaying operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention relates to the combination of aroll of a wire like component and a container capturing the roll. Theroll and container are arranged so that the roll is rotatable in thecontainer about an axis that is approximately the same as the axis ofthe roll. The container and roll are arranged to have an openingarrangement for enabling the component to be paid from the roll to aregion outside the container and to be held in place by the openingarrangement for enabling an end of the component to extend from thecontainer.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a container forcapturing a roll of a wire like component. The container is arranged sothat the roll is rotatable in the container substantially about an axisof the roll. The container is arranged to have an opening arrangementfor enabling the component to be paid from the roll to a region outsidethe container and to be held in place by the opening arrangement forenabling an end of the component to extend from the container.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method of payinga wire like component from a roll of the component, wherein thecomponent is rotatably carried in a container having an openingarrangement for enabling the component to be paid from the roll to aregion outside the container. The method comprises the steps ofinserting a segment of the component into the opening arrangement so afirst portion of the component is in the container and a second portionof the component is outside the container. The component is pulled fromthe roll from outside the container while the segment of the componentis inserted in the opening arrangement. The roll turns about an axis ofrotation in the container in response to the pulling. The component ispositioned so it is held in place in the opening arrangement so that asegment of the component extends through the opening arrangement into aspace outside the container while the remainder of the component is inthe container.

In the preferred embodiment, a spool carries the roll and includes ashaft. The spool, shaft and roll have substantially the same axis ofrotation. The container has opposed sidewalls for carrying the cylinderfor rotation about the axis. Preferably, to prevent unraveling of thewire like component and provide easy access to the wire like componentprior to insertion of the component in the container openingarrangement, an end of the wire like element is secured to and threadedin an opening of an end flange of the spool.

Preferably, the opening arrangement includes a slot for enabling thewire like component to be paid from the roll as the roll turns about itsaxis of rotation. The slot preferably has a longitudinal axis extendingin the same direction as the axis of rotation to facilitate paying ofthe wire like component from the roll. Paying of the wire like componentfrom the roll is also facilitated by locating the slot on a face of thecontainer in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation.

The opening arrangement also preferably includes a slit having edges forholding the wire like component in place. The slit preferably has alongitudinal axis extending substantially at right angles to the axis ofrotation to maximize the holding effect of the slit edges. The holdingeffect of the slit edges is also maximized by locating the slit on aface of the container in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation.

The slit is preferably formed by mating edges of triangular tabs on theface of the container in the plane parallel to the axis of rotation. Thetriangular tabs have a common base forming one side of the slot throughwhich the wire like component is paid. Each of the triangular tabs isformed as a right triangle such that the slit and slot edges form twosides of the triangle. Each triangle includes a hypotenuse about whichthe tabs can turn slightly to facilitate insertion and removal of thewire like component relative to the slit. The triangular tabconfiguration is advantageous because it helps to reduce the cost of adie used to form the tabs on the face of the container, which ispreferably made of cardboard.

An added aspect of the invention relates to the combination of a roll ofa wire like component, and a container capturing the roll. The containerincludes an arrangement for enabling the roll to rotate in the containerabout an axis that is substantially the same as the axis of the roll.The arrangement includes a pair of substantially parallel sides eachincluding two interior and one exterior panels in substantially parallelplanes. The interior panels have aligned slots that receive and hold ashaft carrying a spool for the wire like component.

An additional aspect of the invention relates to a container forcapturing a roll of wire like component. The container comprises anarrangement for enabling the roll to rotate in the container about anaxis that is substantially the same as the axis of the roll. Thearrangements include a pair of substantially parallel sides eachincluding two interior and one exterior panels in substantially parallelplans. The interior panels have aligned slots for receiving and holdinga shaft for carrying a spool for the wire like component.

Preferably, one of the interior and the exterior panels on each side areconnected together at a fold line at the top edges thereof. The foldline bears against the top edge of the other interior panel.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the second interior panels includesa pair of flaps each having lower portions in close proximity to eachother and upper portions spaced from each other to form the slots of thesecond interior panels. The flaps preferably extend from exterior wallsof the container extending at right angles to the sides including theslotted panels. The flaps are folded between the first interior paneland the exterior panel.

The container also preferably includes a top face having (1) one edgehinged to a wall of the container, and (2) a pair of flaps adapted tofit into the container inside of the first interior panels. Each of thetop face flaps extends into the container to a distance slightly lessthan the lengths of the slots and includes a cutout aligned with theslots so that a portion of the shaft passes through the cutout. Thecutout thereby helps to stabilize the position of the shaft and preventrubbing of the spool against the top face.

A further aspect of the invention concerns a cardboard blank for formingthe container for capturing, receiving and holding the roll.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof,especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective, somewhat schematic view of a spoolcarrying a roll of wire and a container for the spool, in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the container and spool illustrated in FIG. 1,with the top face of the container folded back;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1, with interior portionsof the container, as well as the spool, shown by dotted lines;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (taken through the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3)of one side wall of the container, without the shaft of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the top face of the container of FIG. 1 whileall of the wire remains in the container;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the top face of the container of FIG. 1 whilethe wire is being paid from the roll;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view (taken through the lines 8-8, FIG. 7) ofthe container, spool, roll and wire while the wire is being paid fromthe roll;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the top face of the container of FIG. 1 whilethe wire is held in place by a slit on the container top face;

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view (taken through the lines 10-10, FIG.98) of the container, spool, roll and wire while the wire is held inplace by the slit; and

FIGS. 11A and B, together, comprise a plan view of a blank from whichthe container of FIGS. 1-10 is formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-9 wherein cardboard container 10 isillustrated as carrying spool 12 of a roll of picture wire 14. Spool 12includes end faces 16 and 18, formed as circular discs, preferably madeof plastic, and a central tube 13 on which the roll of picture wire 14is wound between the end faces. End face 16 includes, in proximity toits periphery, opening 20 through which the end of wire 14 is threadedwhile container 10 and its contents are in transit and prior to any ofthe wire being paid from spool 12. Wire 14 is held in place whilecontainer 10 and its contents are in transit and prior to any of thewire being paid from spool 12 by tying the wire between opening 20 andthe periphery of disk 16. Wooden shaft 22, having a circularcross-section and a length slightly in excess of the separation betweenend faces 16 and 18, is located in central tube 13 of spool 12. Spool 12and its contents, as well as shaft 22, are captured in container 10 sothat the shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, which isapproximately coincident with the common longitudinal axis of spool 12and the roll of picture wire 14.

Cardboard container 10 is formed as a box, i.e., right parallelepiped,having six square exterior faces (i.e. sides) 31-36, each havingsubstantially the same dimensions. Faces 31 and 32 are respectivelyconsidered the base and top of container 10, while faces 33-36 are thesides of the container. Opposed faces 33 and 35 respectively form partof sidewalls 37 and 38. Sidewalls 37 and 38 respectively include alignedslots 39 and 40 having sufficient width and length for receiving andcarrying shaft 22 in such a manner as to enable spool 12 and the roll ofwire 14 to be captured and turn in container 10. Slots 39 and 40 extendlengthwise in a direction at right angles to faces 31 and 32. Each ofslots 39 and 40 is open at top face 32 and has a length that is slightlymore than one-half of the length of sidewalls 37 and 38. Slots 39 and 40thus enable spool 12 to (1) fit and be dropped into container 10, withthe edges of the spool displaced from top and bottom faces 31 and 32,and (2) turn about the axis of rotation of shaft 22 without contactingthe top or bottom faces.

Sidewalls 37 and 38 are constructed to have sufficient strength to holdspool 12 and wire 14 (typically having a weight of about five pounds).Because each of sidewalls 37 and 38 is constructed substantially thesame, only sidewall 38 is described.

Sidewall 38 is formed by a pair of folded panels 42 and 44 having topedges connected to each other and that extend in parallel planes.Sidewall 38 is also formed by panels 46 and 48 that are located betweenpanels 42 and 44 and fold inwardly from opposed faces 34 and 36. Thus,sidewall 38 can be considered as including an interior portioncomprising panel 44, an exterior portion comprising panel 42 and anintermediate portion comprising panels 46 and 48. Panels 42 and 44 arein substantially parallel planes, while panels 46 and 48 aresubstantially co-planar in a plane substantially parallel to the planesof panels 42 and 44.

A first portion of slot 40 is in the plane of panel 44, while a secondportion of slot 40 is in the plane of panels 46 and 48. The first andsecond portions of slot 40 are aligned and have substantially the sameshape and size, i.e., vertically extending elongated parallel edges anda semicircular bottom edge. The semicircle forming the bottom edge hassubstantially the same diameter as the distance separating the paralleledges. Thus, panel 44 includes elongated slot 200 (FIG. 9A) that formsthe first portion of slot 40 in the plane of panel 44. Slot 200 has thesame dimensions as slot 40 and includes (1) parallel elongatedvertically extending edges 51 and 53, (2) semicircular bottom edgeshaving a diameter equal to the distance between edges 51 and 53, and (3)a center approximately coincident with the axis of shaft 22 tofacilitate turning of the shaft.

Panels 46 and 48, together, are shaped to form the second portion ofslot 40 as a result of panels 46 and 48 respectfully having (1) equallength mating and almost abutting vertically extending straight loweredge portions 50 and 52 that extend upwardly from base 31, (2)vertically extending spaced, equal length upper edge portions 54 and 56,and (3) arcuate transition edge portions 57 and 59. Each of edgeportions 57 and 59 is shaped as a sector of a quarter of a circle havinga diameter equal to the distance between edge portions 54 and 56 and acenter approximately coincident with the axis of shaft 22 to facilitateturning of the shaft. The ends of the upper segments of arcuate portions57 and 59 are tangential with the lower ends of edge portions 54 and 56,while the lower ends of arcuate portions 57 and 59 are tangential andextend horizontally. Edge portions 54 and 56 are (1) equispaced fromedge portions 50 and 52 and (2) spaced from each other by approximatelythe same distance as the width of slots 39 and 40.

Hence, each of slots 39 and 40, at its base, forms a shoulder (i.e.,ledge) that is two panels wide and supports one end of shaft 22 and theload the shaft carries. A fold line defined by the intersection ofpanels 42 and 44 at the top edges thereof bears on the top edges ofpanels 46 and 48 when shaft 22 bears against the ledges as the bottomsof slots 39 and 44. Thus, the top edges of panels 46 and 48, in effect,provide additional support for shaft 22.

To hold sidewall 38 in place, tab 58 extends downwardly from the centralportion of edge 60 of panel 44 to fit into slot 62 in base 31. To enablepanel 44 to fit between the interior faces of sidewalls 34 and 36, panel44 has a width slightly less than panel 42, by virtue of sloping sides64 that connect the vertical edges 65 and 67 of panels 42 and 44together.

Top face 32 of container 10, that lies in a plane parallel to the axesof rotation of shaft 22 and the roll of wire 14, includes an openingarrangement 70 comprising slot 72 and straight slit 74. Slot 72facilitates paying of wire 14 from spool 12, while slit 74 holds wire 14in place after the end of the wire has been initially removed fromopening 20 of spool 12 and between occurrences of paying the wire fromthe spool.

Slot 72 is centrally located on an edge of top face 32 and extendslongitudinally in the same direction as the axes of rotation of shaft 22and the roll of wire 14. Prior to wire 14 being paid from spool 12, thewire is positioned so that it is located in slot 72. As wire 14 is paidfrom spool 12 as result of the wire being grasped and pulled fromoutside of container 10, the wire moves back and forth between spool endfaces 16 and 18. Because slot 72 extends in the same direction as theback and forth movement of wire 14 and the slot has sufficient lengthrelative to the spacing between end faces 16 and 18, the wire is easilypaid from spool 12 and the roll on which the wire is wound.

Slot 72 is formed by pulling tab 76 from top face 32. Tab 76 extendsfrom and is integrally mounted on container 10 at the container edgeformed by the intersection of top face 32 and side face 36. Tab 76 hasparallel short straight edges 78 that extend along top face 32 towardshaft 22, from the intersection of faces 32 and 36. Edges 78 are atright angles to the container edge formed by the intersection of faces32 and 36. Tab 76 includes elongated straight edge 80 that intersectsand is at right angles to edges 78. In one actually constructedcontainer for accommodating a spool having an axial length ofapproximately four inches (between four inch diameter sidewalls 16 and18) tab 76 has a length of approximately two inches and a width ofapproximately {fraction (3/8)} of an inch.

Slit 74 extends in a direction at right angles to, and is centered on,edge 80 so the slit extends perpendicularly to the axes of rotation ofshaft 22 and the roll of wire 14. In the actually constructed container,slit 74 has a length of approximately 1¼ inches. Slit 74 is formed bymating, abutting edges 82 and 84 of top face 32. Edges 82 and 84 arerespectively the sides of tabs 86 and 88, each formed as a righttriangle having a base formed by one-half of edge 80 of slot 72.Triangular tabs 86 and 88 are respectively attached to top face 32 byhypotenuses 92 and 94, formed as spaced elongated indentations 96 in thetop face 32 to facilitate movement of the tabs as a result of the end ofwire 14 being wedged in slot 74 between edges 82 and 84. In the actuallyconstructed container, each of the elongated indentations 96 has alength of approximately {fraction (3/8)} of an inch and the proximateends of adjacent indentations are spaced from each other byapproximately {fraction (3/8)} of an inch. To stabilize tabs 86 and 88relative to the remainder of top face 32, indentations 96 are arrangedso all segments of the indentations are spaced from edge 80 and slit 74.

Slit 74, edges 78 and 80 and indentations 96 are formed on top face 32by inserting a single die into the top face. The die causes score linesto be formed in face 32 (1) along each of slit 74, edges 78 and 80, and(2) at indentations 96. The score lines for slit 74, edges 78 and 80 areslightly deeper than the score lines for indentations 96, to facilitatepulling of tab 72 and insertion of wire 14 into slit 74, as well as toprovide sufficient gripping forces between tabs 86 and 88 and theremainder of top face 32, along hypotenuses 92 and 94.

Top face 32 is hinged to sidewall 36 at the intersection of the edges ofthe top face and the sidewall, i.e., at the same intersection where tab76 is connected to the remainder of container 10. When a user pivots topface 32 about the hinge between the top face and sidewall 36, container10 is opened to expose spool 12 and the tops of slots 39 and 40. Openingof container 10 enables the user to remove spool 12 from slots 39 and 40and thereby free the end of wire 14 from opening 20 in sidewall 16.After freeing the end of wire from opening 20, the user places spool 12in container 10 by inserting shaft 22 into slots 39 and 40, while theshaft is carrying the spool.

Prior to closing top face 32, the user pushes tab 76 from the interiorwall of top face 32 so edges 78 and 80 are separated from the remainderof container 10. This action causes tab 76 to hinge outwardly fromcontainer 10, about the intersection between faces 32 and 36, to formslot 72. The user then inserts the free end of wire 14 through slot 72and pulls on the free end of the wire from outside container 10 (asillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7), resulting in spool 12, the roll of wire14 and shaft 22 turning in container 10. The user then closes top face32 and presses down against abutting edges 82 and 84 to form slit 74.

The user then tugs on wire 14 to wedge the wire in slit 74 so the freeend of the wire extends outwardly from container 10 (as illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9). Hence, wire 14 remains in place, does not unravel whilestored in container 10 and is easily accessible to a user when the userdecides to pay the wire from the container. Alternatively, the user canpress down against abutting edges 82 and 84 to form slit 74 and thenform slot 72 by pulling tab 76 upwardly from top face 32. In eithercase, the user wedges wire 14 in slit 74 during intervals between payingof the wire from container 10.

Panels 98, 100 and 102 are hinged with the three edges of top face 32that are not hinged to wall 36. Panels 98 and 100, hinged with oppositeedges of top face 32, respectively include edges 104 and 106 inproximity to walls 37 and 38; edges 104 and 106 extend at right anglesto walls 37 and 38 and the folded edges between top face 32 and panels98 and 100. Edges 108 and 110 of panels 98 and 100 that are opposite toedges 104 and 106 taper toward edges 104 and 106 from the folded edgesbetween top face 32 and panel 102 to facilitate insertion of panels 98and 100, as well as panel 102, into the interior of container 10. Edges104 and 106 are sufficiently long that the bottom edges 112 and 114 ofpanels 98 and 100 extend vertically, approximately to the centerline ofshaft 22 when top face 32 closes container 10. Bottom edges 112 and 114respectively include semicircular cutouts 116 and 118, each having acenter somewhat below the axis of shaft 22. The radii of cutouts 116 and118 are (1) slightly in excess of the radius of shaft 22 and (2) thedistance separating the parallel elongated edges 51 and 53 of slot 400.When panel 32 closes container 10, panels 112 and 114 abut panels 44 andcutouts 116 and 118 are aligned with opposite ends of shaft 22 to assistin holding the shaft in place without contacting the shaft while theshaft turns during payout of wire 14.

Panel 102, hinged with the edge of top face 32 that is parallel to theedge formed by the intersection of faces 32 and 36, includes flaps 120and 122. Flaps 120 and 122 respectively include edges 124 and 126 thatare parallel to edges 104 and 106 of panels 98 and 100. Edges 124 and126 have lengths such that when top face 32 closes container 10(resulting in the interior wall of panel 102 abutting the outer wall offace 34) edges 128 and 130 of flaps 120 and 122 are respectively inclose proximity to the edges of slots 39 and 40 closest to face 34.Edges 124 and 126 extend inwardly of fold lines 132 and 134 betweenpanel 102 and flaps 120 and 122, to form an arcuate intersection withedges 108 and 110, and thereby facilitate insertion of flaps 120 and 122into slots 136 and 138 of sidewalls 39 and 40. Insertion and removal offlaps 120 and 122 into slots 136 and 138 is also facilitated byproviding arcs at the edges 128 and 130 of the portions of flaps 120 and122 which are opposite to edges 124 and 126.

Container 10 is formed from a cardboard blank 150, as illustrated inFIGS. 11A and 11B, wherein bottom line 152 of FIG. 11A and top line 154of FIG. 11B are in actuality coincident, such that the structures inFIGS. 11A and 11B are mirror images of each other relative to lines 152and 154. Blank 150 includes fold lines forming the various previouslydescribed edges of container 10, as well as the previously describedscore lines, slots, cutouts and other edges.

While there has been described and illustrated a specific embodiment ofthe invention, it will be clear that variations in the details of theembodiment specifically illustrated and described may be made withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims. The example, while the invention has beenspecifically described in connection with metal picture hanging wire, itis to be understood that many of the principles of the invention areapplicable to other thin elongated wire-like components, such as string,thread and tubing.

1. In combination, a roll of a wire like component and a containercapturing the roll, the roll and container being arranged so that theroll is rotatable in the container about an axis that is approximatelythe same as the rotation axis of the roll, the container and roll beingarranged to have an opening arrangement for enabling the component to bepaid from the roll to a region outside the container and to be held inplace by the opening arrangement for enabling an end of the component toextend from the container.
 2. The combination of claim 1 furtherincluding a spool carrying the roll, the spool including a cylinder, thespool, cylinder and roll have approximately the same axis of rotation,the container having opposed sidewalls for carrying the cylinder forrotation about the axis.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the spoolincludes an end flange, an end of the wire like element being secured toand threaded in an opening of the end flange.
 4. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein the opening arrangement includes a slot for enabling thewire like component to be paid from the roll as the roll turns about itsaxis of rotation.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the slot has alongitudinal axis extending in the same direction as the axis ofrotation.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the slot is on a face ofthe container in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation.
 7. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein the opening arrangement also includes aslit having edges for holding the wire like component in place.
 8. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein the opening arrangement includes a slithaving edges for holding the wire like component in place.
 9. Thecombination of claim 8 wherein the slit has a longitudinal axisextending substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation.
 10. Thecombination of claim 9 wherein the slit is on a face of the container ina plane parallel to the axis of rotation.
 11. The combination of claim 9wherein the slit is formed by mating edges of triangular tabs on theface of the container in the plane parallel to the axis of rotation. 12.The combination of claim 11 wherein the opening arrangement includes aslot for enabling the wire like component to be paid from the roll asthe roll turns about its axis of rotation.
 13. The combination of claim12 wherein the triangular tabs have a common base forming one side ofthe slot through which the wire like component is adapted to be paid.14. The combination of claim 13 wherein each of the triangular tabs isformed as a right triangle such that the slit and slot edges form twosides of the triangle.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein eachtriangle includes a hypotenuse about which the tabs can turn slightly.16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the container is made ofcardboard.
 17. A container for capturing a roll of a wire likecomponent, the container comprising an arrangement for enabling the rollto rotate in the container about an axis that is substantially the sameas the roll rotation axis, the container being arranged to have anopening arrangement for enabling the component to be paid from the rollto a region outside the container and to be held in place by the openingarrangement for enabling an end of the component to extend from thecontainer.
 18. The container of claim 17 wherein the opening arrangementincludes a slot for enabling the wire like component to be paid from theroll as the roll turns about its axis of rotation.
 19. The container ofclaim 18 wherein the slot has a longitudinal axis extending in the samedirection as the axis of rotation.
 20. The container of claim 19 whereinthe slot is on a face of the container in a plane parallel to the axisof rotation.
 21. The container of claim 18 wherein the openingarrangement also includes a slit having edges for holding the wire likecomponent in place.
 22. The container of claim 17 wherein the openingarrangement includes a slit having edges for holding the wire likecomponent in place.
 23. The container of claim 22 wherein the slit has alongitudinal axis extending substantially at right angles to the axis ofrotation.
 24. The container of claim 23 wherein the slit is on a face ofthe container in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation.
 25. Thecontainer of claim 24 wherein the slit is formed by mating edges oftriangular tabs on the face of the container in the plane parallel tothe axis of rotation.
 26. The container of claim 25 wherein the openingarrangement includes a slot for enabling the wire like component to bepaid from the roll as the roll turns about its axis of rotation.
 27. Thecontainer of claim 26 wherein the triangular tabs have a common baseforming one side of the slot through which the wire like component isadapted to be paid.
 28. The container of claim 27 wherein each of thetriangular tabs is formed as a right triangle such that the slit andslot edges form two sides of the triangle.
 29. The container of claim 28wherein each triangle includes a hypotenuse about which the tabs canturn slightly.
 30. The container of claim 29 wherein the container ismade of cardboard.
 31. The container of claim 17 wherein the containerincludes a pair of substantially parallel side walls each includingfirst and second panels extending in substantially parallel planes, thefirst and second panels on each side having aligned slots for receivingand holding a shaft for carrying a spool for the wire like component.32. The container of claim 31 wherein each of said side walls includes athird panel extending in a plane substantially parallel to the planes ofthe first and second panels, the first and third panels having joinedtop edges for bearing against a top edge of the second panel in responseto bearing the shaft against shoulders at the bottom of the slots. 33.The container of claim 32 wherein each of said second panels includes apair of flaps having lower portions in close proximity to each other andupper portions spaced from each other to form the slots of the secondpanels.
 34. The container of claim 33 wherein the container includes atop face having one edge hinged to a wall of the container, the top faceincluding a pair of flaps adapted to fit into the container in planesparallel to the planes of the first, second and third panels, each ofthe flaps of the top face extending into the container for a distanceslightly less than the lengths of the slots and including a cutoutaligned with the slots, for enabling a portion of the shaft pass throughthe cutout.
 35. A method of paying a wire like component from a roll ofthe component, wherein the component is rotatably carried in a containerhaving an opening arrangement for enabling the component to be paid fromthe roll to a region outside the container, the method comprising thesteps of inserting a segment of the component into the openingarrangement so a first portion of the component is in the container anda second portion of the component is outside the container, pulling thecomponent from the roll from outside the container while the segment ofthe component is inserted in the opening arrangement, whereby inresponse to the pulling the roll turns about an axis of rotation in thecontainer, positioning the component so it is held in place in theopening arrangement so that a segment of the component extends throughthe opening arrangement into a space outside the container while theremainder of the component is in the container.
 36. In combination, aroll of a wire like component and a cardboard container capturing theroll, an arrangement for enabling the roll to rotate in the containerabout an axis that is substantially the same as the roll rotation axis,the arrangement including a pair of substantially parallel sides eachincluding first and second panels in substantially parallel planes, eachof the panels having an aligned slot receiving and holding a shaftcarrying a spool including the roll, so that the shaft is supported by aledge formed at bottom edges of the slots in the first and secondpanels.
 37. The combination of claim 36, wherein each of the sidesincludes a third panel extending in a plane parallel to the planes ofthe first and second panels, the first and third panels being connectedtogether at adjacent edges thereof, the second panel being locatedbetween the first and third panels.
 38. The combination of claim 37,wherein the top edges of the first and third panels of each side bearagainst top edges of the second panel of the side.
 39. The combinationof claim 38; wherein each of said second panels includes a pair of flapshaving lower portions in close proximity to each other, upper portionsspaced from each other to form the slots of the second panels and atransition between each upper and lower portion, each of the transitionshaving an edge included in the ledge.
 40. The combination of claim 39,wherein each of the transitions is shaped as a quarter of a circlehaving a diameter substantially equal to the distance between straightparallel edges of the slot and a center approximately coincident withthe shaft axis.
 41. The combination of claim 39, wherein the slot ineach of the first panels has a pair of straight parallel elongatedspaced edges and a semicircular edge connecting the parallel elongatedspaced edges together, the semicircular edge being a sector of a circlehaving a diameter substantially equal to the distance between thestraight parallel elongate edges and a center approximately coincidentwith the shaft axis.
 42. The combination of claim 39, wherein the slotin each of the first panels has a pair of straight parallel elongatedspaced edges and a semicircular edge connecting the parallel elongatedspaced edges together, the semicircular edge being a sector of a circlehaving a diameter substantially equal to the distance between thestraight parallel elongate edges and a center approximately coincidentwith the shaft axis.
 43. The combination of claim 36 wherein thecontainer includes a top face having one edge hinged to a wall of thecontainer, the top face including a pair of flaps adapted to fit intothe container in planes parallel to the first and second panels, each ofthe flaps of the top face extending into the container to a distanceslightly less than the lengths of the slots and including a cutoutaligned with the slots so that a portion of the shaft passes through thecutout.
 44. The combination of 43, wherein the cut-out has an edge thatis a sector of a circle having a center approximately coincident and adiameter such that (a) the shaft does not normally contact the cut-outduring paying out of the wire like component and (b) if the shaftundergoes abnormal movements the shaft contacts the cutout and thecutout prevents contact of the roll with a top face of the containerthat extends in a plane parallel to the shaft axis.
 45. The combinationof claim 44, wherein the top face includes an opening arrangement forenabling the component to be paid from the roll to a region outside thecontainer and to be held in place by the opening arrangement forenabling an end of the component to extend from the container.
 46. Acontainer for capturing a roll of a wire like component, the containercomprising an arrangement for enabling the roll to rotate in thecontainer about an axis that is approximately the same as the rotationaxis of the roll, the arrangement including a pair of substantiallyparallel sides each including first and second panels in substantiallyparallel planes, each of the panels having an aligned slot for receivingand holding a shaft for carrying a spool including the roll for enablingthe shaft to be supported by a ledge formed at bottom edges of the slotsin the first and second panels.
 47. The container of claim 46, whereineach of the sides includes a third panel extending in a plane parallelto the planes of the first and second panels, the first and third panelsbeing connected together at adjacent edges thereof, the second panelbeing located between the first and third panels.
 48. The container ofclaim 47, wherein the top edges of the first and third panels of eachside bear against top edges of the second panel of the side.
 49. Thecontainer of claim 48 wherein each of said second panels includes a pairof flaps having lower portions in close proximity to each other, upperportions spaced from each other to form the slots of the second panelsand a transition between each upper and lower portion, each of thetransitions having an edge included in the ledge.
 50. The container ofclaim 49, wherein each of the transitions is shaped as a quarter of acircle having a diameter substantially equal to the distance betweenstraight parallel edges of the slot and a center approximatelycoincident with the shaft axis.
 51. The container of claim 49, whereinthe slot in each of the first panels has a pair of straight parallelelongated spaced edges and a semicircular edge connecting the parallelelongated spaced edges together, the semicircular edge having a sectorof a circle having a diameter substantially equal to the distancebetween the straight parallel elongate edges and a center approximatelycoincident on the shaft axis.
 52. The container of claim 46, wherein theslot in each of the first panels has a pair of straight parallelelongated spaced edges and a semicircular edge connecting the parallelelongated spaced edges together, the semicircular edge being a sector ofa circle having a diameter substantially equal to the distance betweenthe straight parallel elongated edges and a center approximatelycoincident on the shaft axis.
 53. The container of claim 46 wherein thecontainer includes a top face having one edge hinged to a wall of thecontainer, the top face including a pair of flaps adapted to fit intothe container in planes parallel to the first and second panels, each ofthe flaps of the top face extending into the container to a distanceslightly less than the lengths of the slots and including a cutoutaligned with the slots so that a portion of the shaft passes through thecutout.
 54. The container of claim 53, wherein the cut-out has an edgethat is a sector of a circle having a center approximately coincidentand a diameter such that (a) the shaft does not normally contact thecut-out during paying out of the wire like component and (b) if theshaft undergoes abnormal movements the shaft contacts the cutout and thecutout prevents contact of the roll with a top face of the containerthat extends in a plane parallel to the shaft axis.
 55. The container ofclaim 46, wherein the top face includes an opening arrangement forenabling the component to be paid from the roll to a region outside thecontainer and to be held in place by the opening arrangement forenabling an end of the component to extend from the container.
 56. Acardboard blank for forming the container of claim
 44. 57. A cardboardblank for forming the container of claim
 51. 58. A cardboard blank forforming the container of claim
 54. 59. A container for capturing a rollof a wire like component, the container comprising an arrangement forenabling the roll to rotate in the container about an axis that isapproximately the same as the rotation axis of the roll, the arrangementincluding a pair of substantially parallel sides each including firstand second panels in substantially parallel planes, each of the panelshaving an aligned slot receiving and holding a shaft for carrying aspool including the roll, so that the shaft is supported by a ledgeformed at bottom edges of the slots in the first and second panels.